Paper-gutting machine



(No Model.) 3 masts-Sheet 1;

H; P. FEISTER. PAPER CUTTING MACHINE.

,417. Patented App 27, 1897' Inventor.

Witnesses. G

(N0 Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet2.

H. P. FEISTER. PAPER CUTTING MACHINE.

No. 581,417., Patented Apr. 27, 1897.

Witnesses.

Att brney.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.-

H. P. FEISTER.

PAPER CUTTING MACHINE.

No. 581,417. Patented Apr. 27, 1897.

Witnesses. I I

Attorney.

Tu: NORRIS PETERS no monnmaoq wAsHnmmN, o. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT @FETQE.

HENRY P. FEISTER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

PAPER-CUTTING MACHINE.

Q'PECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 581,417, dated April27, 1897.

Application filed April 24, 1896. Serial No. 588,857. (No model.) I

To (tZl whmiz/ it TIL/l7 concern..-

Be it known that I, HENRY P. FEIsTER, of the city and county ofPhiladelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement inPaper-Cutting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to paper-cutting machines; and it consists of theimprovements which are hereinafter described and claimed, and which areillustrated in the accompanying drawings.

My improvements are designed particularly to improve the constructionand simplify the operation of paper-cutting machines and to enable theoperator to perform his duties with greater ease and accuracy.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a paper-cuttingmachine embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machinewith part broken away to expose certain parts. Fig. 3 is a horizontalsectional view, enlarged, of part of the mechanism for operating theback gage, taken on the line 0c of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a transversesectional view on the line y y of Fig. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of themachine. Fig. 6 is a vertical view, enlarged, of the indicator-fingerand the frame which carries it. Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view ofthe same on the line z z of Fig. 6. Fig. Sis a perspective View of partof the movable apron of the back gage. Fig. 9 is a vertical sectionalView of the same on the line to w of Fig. 8, and Fig. 10 is a perspective view of one of the floating pieces of the back gage.

For the purpose of illustrating and explaining my improvements I haveshown them applied to a well-known form of paper-cutting machine havinga reciprocating cutter A, a

front clamp B for clamping the edge of the paper adjacent to the cutter,and a rear or back gage 0, adapted to be moved over the table D to andfrom the cutter. The front clamp B is raised and lowered by suitabledevices. A machine of this character is described and shown in LettersPatent No. 539,502, dated May 21, 1895, to Samuel Brown, and No. 400,652, dated April 2, 1889, to myself.

I shall now describe my improvements, which relate, first, to themovable back gage and the means for adjusting it, and, second,

to the pointer or indicator for indicating the cutting-line upon thepaper.

The front clamping devices-In machines of this character it is customaryto construct the clamp B with a series of notches b at the rear, forminga series of tongues or ribs a, and to similarly provide the front faceof the movable gage O with complementary notches and gages o d, adaptedto engage with the notches and ribs 19 a when the gage is moved forwardto the clamp B. This is done for the purpose of permitting the gage O tobe moved closer to line of cutting action of the knife than wouldotherwise be possible. In some classes of work, however, thisconstruction is objectionable for the reason that the formation of thenotches and ribs in the face of the clamp B destroys the fiat unbrokenclampingface, and with thin paper there is liability of the upper sheetsbecoming puckered or injured by the irregular face of the clamp. Toobviate this difficulty, I employ an auxiliary clamping piece or apronE, which hasa smooth clam ping-face e and is adapted to be thrown intoaction when the character of the paper renders it desirable. This apronE, I have shown as aplate or frame hinged to the clamp B and adapted,when thrown down, to fit under the face of the clamp B, so as to coverthe notched face thereof and present its flat smooth clamping-face e tothe paper, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 5.

The movable back gage and the devicesfor adjusting it.The back gage 0consists of a transversely-arranged frame movable longitudinally overthe table, and usually has its face provided with the notches and ribs 0cl, as described. The gage has usually been guided in its movements bylongitudinal guides engaging grooves or ways in the face of the table.This has been found objectionable owing to the liability of the guidesto bind and the difficulty in applying lubricants without soiling thepaper. To obviate these difficulties, I provide the gage O with rollersF, adapted to run on the surface of the table when the gage is moved. Ihave shown the gage Oprovided with a rearwardlyextending frame G,carrying the rollers F, which are preferably journaled in frames H,

adj ustably connected with the frame G, as by slot-and-serew connectionsh, which enable the gage O to be adjusted vertically with reference tothe table. I prefer to construct the guide C in two or more sections, asshown. (See Fig. 2.)

I is an arm depending from the gage 0 through a longitudinal slot 1' inthe table I) and engaging an endless chain or band J. The gage 0 maybemoved longitudinally over the table D. The chain J passes over asprocket-wheel J at the front of the frame and over a second idlersprocket-wheel J 2 at the rear of the frame. The sprocket-wheel J ismounted on a shaft J, which may be turned, as by the hand-wheel K, tooperate the chain and move the gage.

To enable an accurate or nice adjustment of the back gage O, I employ,however, an auxiliary device for operating the shaft j independently ofthe hand-wheel H.

U is a worm-wheel carried by the shaft j. U is a worm carried on a shorttransverse shaft j, journaled eccentrically in bearings nu, j ournaledin a bracket U carried by the frame U in which the shaft j is supported.The bearin gs a u are carried by a lever V, by which they may be turnedin their bearings 11. a in the bracket U and when so turned they willraise or lower the shaft j, so as to throw the worm U,which it carries,into or out of mesh with the worm-wheel U. Normally the lever V maybethrown down, so that the worm U is not of engagement with the wormwheelU, and the shaft may be operated by the hand-wheel K.

\Vhen the lever V is raised, the shaft j is elevated and the worm U isthrown into mesh with the worm-wheel U. This shaft j may be rotated by ahand-whee1 \V, carried by it, thus driving the shaft j and thesprocketchain J through the worm U and worm-wheel U. This operation ofthe shaft 7' through the worm and worm-wheel produces a slow gradualmovement and enables a, nicer adjustment of the back gage to be madethan would be possible with the quick direct movement produced by thedirectly-acting handwheel K.

Heretofore more or less difficulty has been met owing to the liabilityof the lower sheets in the pack to slip under the edge of the gage G andthus become displaced. This could not be satisfactorily overcome byarranging the gage so that it would press at its edge tightly or heavilyupon the table,because such pressure would greatly increase the frictionand add to the difficulty of adjusting the gage. To entirely overcomethis defect and to practically prevent the sheets slipping under thegage without perceptibly increasing the friction upon the table, Iprovide the face of the gage with floating fingers or pieces L, whichbear loosely upon the surface of the table, and, being entirely free,are always in contact with it at their ends. These fingers preferablyconsist of small brass pieces loosely fitted in dovetailed verticalgrooves in the face of the guide and presenting flat faces even with theface of the guide. In the construction illustrated in Fig. 2 I haveshown one of these strips in each of the ribs (Z of the gage, but it isnot essential that they should be used in each rib. To insure a morecertain contact being maintained by the ends of these floating pieceswith the surface of the table and to reduce friction to a minimum, Iprefer to form these pieces L with beveled noses I, as shown in Fig. 9.The pieces L are preferably secured to the gage by a slot-and-pinconnection, such as is shown in Fig. 9, which, while permitting thefloating pieces to move freely, prevents them from dropping out of thegrooves.

To obviate the difficulties that arise from the pressure of the notchedface of the gage 0 upon light thin sheets, which, as has been before explain ed in connection with the clamp B, is liable to produce wrinklingand injury to the paper and to throw the sheets out of position, Iemploy an auxiliary gage plate or apron M, having a smooth continuousface and adapted, when required, to be placed over the notched face ofthe gage.

I have shown the plate or apron M as a plate of substantially the lengthof the face of the gage 0, provided at its extremities with arms m, bywhich it is hinged to lugs or projectioi'is on the body of the gage.\Vhen in use, the plate M is thrown over the front of the gage, asindicated in dotted lines in Fig. 5. \Vhen out of use, it is thrownback, as indicated in full lines. The face of this auxiliary gage plateor apron is preferably provided with a series of floating fingers orpieces L, arranged and operating like the similar pieces in the face ofthe gage 0. Owing to the employment of these floating fingers L in thegage O and apron M it is not necessary that the base of the gage Cshould make contact with the surface of the table. I am thereforeenabled to support it wholly upon the rollers F, and there will be nofriction during the adjustment of the gage, except the comparativelysmall amount produced by the rollers and the noses of the floatingstrips L.

To permit of a slight angular adjustment of the plate or apron M, Iprovide it with setscrews N, adapted to bear against the face of thegage C. By adjusting these screws N the plate or apron may be throwninto a slightlyinclined position to right or left of a vertical line topermit of its assuming a parallel position at all times with relation tothe cut of knife.

The devices for inrlz'cativ'lg the cuiting Jz'nc upon the paper.-It ishighly desirable that the operator should be able to ascertain atanytime the exact point at which the cutter will act upon the paper withoutoperating the clamp for that purpose. \Vhen the paper is clamped, theclamp B will show the point at which the cutter will act, but if thepaper is found not to be in proper position it becomes necessary torelease the clamp before the paper may be moved. To overcome thisdifficulty, I provide the machine with an indicator or pointer, whichmay be operated independently of the clamp and cutter to move in theline of the cutting action of the cutter and thus indicate upon the faceof the pack of sheets the exact point at which the cutter will act. Thispointer may be moved out of the way when desired and may be adjusted tosuit the size or position of the pack of sheets. I

O is a pointer arranged in front of the cutter-bar and having its end,when in operative position, in the line of movement of the cutter. Ihave shown the pointer carried by the cutter bar or head A.

P is a hollow box in which the shank O of the pointer projects, and aspring 0 in the box holds the shank and pointer in a normallyelevatedposition, but permits them to be depressed. The shank O may be providedwith a thumb-piece p, projecting through a slot 19 in the box, by meansof which the pointer may be depressed. A counterweight may of course besubstituted for the spring 0.

The box 0 is carried by a plate Q, which is pivotally connected, as atr, with a slide R, adapted to a longitudinal guide P on the bar A.

The box 0 is shown hinged to the plate Q by cars q g at the top, and itmay be swung out upon this hinge to move the pointer O away from thepack of sheets. Lugs q g on the plate Q engage the box 0.

The plate Q may turn on its pivotal connection r with the slide R, andto guide and support it the plate may be provided with curved slots 7'',engaging pins r carried by the slide R.

The operation of the Supposing the pointer O is as follows: pointer tobe in the position shown in Fig. 5, immediately below the cutter A andheld in a raised position by the spring 0, if a pack of sheets is placedupon the table under the cutter and the pointer O is depressed by thethumb-piece p it will touch the top of the pack of sheets at exactly thepoint at which the cutter will act, thus indicating to the operator theline of cutting action and enabling him to change the position of thesheets if further adjustment is necessary. By moving the slide R uponthe guide R the pointer may be adjusted laterally to suit the positionoccupied by the pack of sheets on the table. When it is desired'tooperate the pointer O with an oblique movement with relation to thetable, the plate Q may be turned on its pivotal connection r. After thepointer has been used it may be thrown out of the way upon its hinge g.It may also be turned into any angular position desired by turning theplate Q upon its pivot r.

The indicating device for indicating the posit ion of the pack of sheetswith reference to the line of cutting action-Machines of this characteremploy means to indicate the position of the back gage and the pack ofsheets with reference to the line of action of the cutter. Suchindicating means show both the distance from the line of cutting actionto the front end of the sheets, or the amount to be cut off, and thedistance from the line of cutting action to the rear end of the sheets.Heretofore these dimensions have usually been indicated by metalgage-strips set into the surface of the tableand numbered in oppositedirections from the line of cutting action. Such indicators areinconvenient, as they are not in position to be seen by the operator,who stands at the hea d of the machine. In carrying out my invention Iemploy an indicating device which shows to the operator at the head ofthe table the exact adjustment of the back gage and operatesautomatically With the adjustment of the sheets.

S is an indicator strip or band arranged below the table and passingabout idlers S S at the front and rear of the machine. This strip orband an arm T (dotted lines in Fig. 2) with the frame or arm I of thegage C, which is connected with the endless chain J. the endless chain Jis movedto adjust the position of the gage C, the strip or band S ismoved correspondingly, and consequently the movements of the indicatorstrip or band will correspond exactly with those of the back gage C.

The strip S is provided with two sets of numbers arranged in oppositedirections, as shown. A pointer t is arranged at the front of the tableadjacent to the band S, under which the band travels when it is moved.When the back gage is moved, the extent of movement is indicated by oneset of numbers, those running from left to right, and the distance ofthe back gage from the cutting-line is indicated on the other set, thoserunning from right to left. The indicator strip or band is so adjustedthat when the back gage is at its extreme rear position the number 0 inone set and 10, or the highest number of the series, in the other setwill be under the pointer. If now the gage is moved forward two points,the strip will be turned until the number 2 in the first series and thenumber 8 in the latter are brought under the pointer, thus showing tothe operatorat a glance the distance he has moved the back gage and thedistance between the back gage and the cutting-line, as well as thedistance or length of paper to be cut in front of cutter-knife.

The various details of construction that have been shown may of coursebe varied without departing from the invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a paper-cutting machine, the adjustable back gage provided withsupporting-rollers F carried in vertically-adj ustable frames wherebythe back gage'may be elevated or lowered with reference to the table.

2. In a paper-cutting machine, the adjust- Whenever is connected belowthe table by 4 ICC able back gage having its front face provided withone or more floating pieces or fingers loosely supported thereon andadapted to rest upon the surface of the table.

3. In a paper-cutting machine, the adjustable back gage having its frontface provided with notches forming a series of ribs and grooves, and aseries of loose floating pieces or fingers carried bysaid ribs.

4. In a paper-cutting machine, the adjustable back gage havingdovetailed grooves in its face, and a series of dovetailed floatingpieces loosely supported in said grooves.

5. In a paper-cutting machine, the adj ustable back gage provided withone or more loose floating pieces L on its front face provided Withbeveled noses Z.

0. In a paper-cutting machine, the combination with the adjustable backgage, of an auxiliary hinged plate adapted to be placed over the frontof the back gage to form the face thereof and provided with one or moreloose floating pieces or fingers, the ends of which are adapted to makecontact with the table.

7. In a paper-cutting machine, the combination with the adjustable backgage, the driving-shaft j, power-transmitting connections between theback gage and the drivingshaft, means acting directly on thedrivingshaft to operate it, a Worm-wheel on the shaft ,7, atransversely-arranged shaft j, eccentrically journaled in bearings, aWorm carried by said shaft, a lever connected with the bearings of theshaftj, by the operation of which the worm may be thrown into or out ofengagement with the Worm-Wheel, and a hand- Wheel W on the shaft j foroperating it.

8. In a paper-cutting machine, the combination with the reciprocatingcutter, of a movable indicator or pointer adjacent to the cutter andhaving its end located above the pack of sheets, and a hinged framecarrying said pointer or indicator whereby the pointer or indicator maybe swung away from the pack of sheets.

9. In a paper-cutting machine, the combination with the reciprocatingcutter, of a movable indicator or pointer adjacent to the cutter andhaving its end located above the pack of sheets, and alaterally-adjustable frame carrying said pointer or indicator.

10. In a paper-cutting machine, the combination with the reciprocatingcutter, of a movable indicator or pointer adjacent to the cutter andhaving its end located above the pack of sheets, and a pivoted framecarrying said pointer or indicator.

11. In a paper-cutting machine, the combination with the reciprocatingcutter, of a supporting-frame Q located adjacent thereto, a box P hingedto the frame Q and the springpressed pointer 0 carried by the box andhaving its end located above the pack of sheets.

12. In a paper-cutting machine, the combination With the reciprocatingcutter, of a laterally-adjustable side R located in the front of thecutter or knife bar, a supporting-frame Q pivotally connected with theslide R, a box I? hinged to the frame Q, and the springpressed pointer 0carried by the box and having its end located above the pack of sheets.

13. In a paper-cutting machine, the combination With the reciprocatingcutter, of the box P located in the rear thereof, the indicator orpointer having its end arranged above the pack of sheets and its shankin the box P, the spring 0 in the box holding the indicator in anormally-raised position but permitting it to be depressed, and thethumbpiece 19 for depressing the pointer.

In testimony of which invention I have hereunto set my hand.

HENRY P. FEISTER.

lVitnesses:

BENJ. L. LEHMAN, CHARLES WANICH.

